Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38916696›Full record

ArticleJournal of autism and developmental disorders2025

Association Between Autism and PTSD Among Adult Psychiatric Outpatients.

Johan Agebjörn, Christopher Gillberg, Jonas Eberhard, Eva Billstedt, Johan Nyrenius

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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Johan AgebjörnAdult Psychiatric Clinic Arlöv, Region Skåne, Arlöv, Sweden. johan.agebjorn@skane.se.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-4963-1213
Christopher GillbergGillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8848-1934
Jonas EberhardAdult Psychiatry Helsingborg, Region Skåne, Sweden; and Department of Clinical Sciences Lund/Clinical Sciences Helsingborg,, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0364-2626
Eva BillstedtGillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4200-2149
Johan NyreniusGillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1816-6098

Funding

Adlerbertska Stiftelserna Adlerbertska StiftelsernaAnnMari och Per Ahlqvists Stiftelse AnnMari och Per Ahlqvists StiftelseStiftelserna Wilhelm och Martina Lundgrens Stiftelserna Wilhelm och Martina Lundgrens
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) occurs in 1-1.5% of the general population and possibly in up to 20% of psychiatric outpatients. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) occurs at some point in life in 4% of the general population and in 14-20% of psychiatric outpatients. Knowledge about how PTSD manifests in people with ASD is important in order for it to be correctly diagnosed and intervened for.

methodsThis study investigated the relationship between PTSD and autism among adult psychiatric outpatients (N = 90) of whom 63 had ASD or subthreshold ASD based on DSM-5 criteria. The study group was subjected to in-depth psychiatric assessments using validated instruments. Diagnosis of PTSD was made based on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI).

resultsThere was a trend towards PTSD being more common among participants with ASD compared to participants without ASD, although significant differences could not be shown in this small sample. 21% of the ASD group had current PTSD, compared to 4% of the study group without ASD. There were no differences between the groups regarding exposure to trauma. There was a trend towards a relationship between number of autism symptoms and hyperarousal symptoms in PTSD. Conversely, the PTSD symptom of irritability/outbursts of anger, was significantly associated with number of autism symptoms.

conclusionsA subgroup of psychiatric outpatients with ASD also suffer from PTSD. Hyperarousal symptoms are possibly more prevalent in the presentation of PTSD in individuals/patients with ASD compared to those without ASD.

Indexed as

Autism Spectrum DisorderStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticAdultComorbidityFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOutpatientsPsychiatric Status Rating ScalesYoung AdultAdultsAutismNeurodevelopmental DisordersPsychiatryPTSD

Identifiers

PMID38916696

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.